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Yorkshire cycling website

Robert Goodwill leaves DfT

16th July 2016

Robert Goodwill MP, by International Maritime Organisation, Flickr, Licence CC BY 2.0

Robert Goodwill has left the Department for Transport. In David Cameron's administration, he was Minister of State in the DfT, and had responsibility for cycling. He now moves to the Home Office, where he will be Minister of State for immigration.

The decision was made late on Friday 15th July, and confirmed by a government announcement on 16th July 2016.

John Hayes MP, by UK in France, Flickr, Licence CC BY-ND 2.0

Mr Goodwill's replacement at the DfT is John Hayes. It's not clear if Mr Hayes will have responsibility for cycling.

John Hayes was born in Woolwich, and went to a grammar school, then Nottingham University. He is MP for South Holland and The Deepings, in Lincolnshire. He has ben Minister of State in the DfT before, from July 2014 until the 2015 general election. He is a member of the Countryside Alliance, and anti-wind power

Mr Hayes gave a lecture on 'making roads beautiful' to the Campaign for Rural England and the Campaign for Better Transport in February 2015. He was transport minister in January 2015 when the government accepted an amendment to the infrastructure bill, to include a cycling and walking investment strategy. 'The case was made by cyclists here in the House and beyond, and it is a persuasive one.' He has engaged with a local cycling forum in Spalding, in his constituency.

Unelected Prime Minister

All of these appointments have been made by Theresa May, who is an unelected Prime Minister. People sometimes recite the theory that we vote for MPs, then the largest party's leader is made Prime Minister - and this is said to justify a situation such as the current one, where nobody voted for May or her policies.

The argument is only ever made on a party political basis, by people justifying their own party's arrangements. If the leader of the another party becomes Prime Minister in this way, it is unacceptable, and a stitch-up. This is demonstrated by David Cameron's comments about exactly this situation, in April 2010. 'I think you should be in 10 Downing Street because people have voted for you. It's a novel idea, I must say.' He said it was unacceptable for someone to become Prime Minister because their party had 'stitched up some deal.' In these circumstances, according to Mr Cameron, there should be an election within 6 months.

Are these standards which only apply to other people and other parties? Mr Cameron has been awfully quiet about these principles lately. All I've heard him say is that he thinks that Mrs May will make a great Prime Minister for years to come.

Whatever anyone thinks of these new ministers, there is a strong argument that the whole set-up lacks legitimacy.

APPCG enquiry into the CWIS

24th May 2016

The All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group held an enquiry into the government's Cycling & Walking Investment Strategy, with cycling campaign organisations, and cycling minister Robert Goodwill, giving evidence. Read more about APPCG enquiry into CWIS...

Chris Grayling new Transport Secretary

15th July 2016

Chris Grayling, by LadyGeekTV, Flickr, Licence CC BY-ND 2.0

Chris Grayling was yesterday appointed as the Transport Secretary, replacing Patrick McLoughlin. Robert Goodwill remains the minister in the DfT with responsibility for cycling, and Philip Hammond is the new Chancellor. What does it mean for cycling (and is it time to despair?) Read about Grayling new Transport Secretary...